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Cotillion round three of Blind Luck vs. Havre de Grace

Blind Luck (left) and Havre de Grace hit the wire together in the Alabama, but Blind Luck got the nod (Melissa Wirth/Horsephotos.com) The connections of HAVRE DE GRACE (Saint Liam) hope the third time will be the charm as their three-year-old filly will once again face divisional leader BLIND LUCK (Pollard's Vision) in Saturday's $750,000 Cotillion S. (G2) at the former Philadelphia Park. Bowing to Blind Luck by a neck in the Alabama S. (G1) and a nose in the Delaware Oaks (G2), Havre de Grace will attempt to reverse her luck while in receipt of 10 pounds, a concession available under the allowance conditions of the 1 1/16-mile feature. Havre de Grace, whose string of photo-finish losses also includes a neck miss in the Go for Wand S. three starts back, has proven a formidable foe to Blind Luck. Though the spread was six pounds in the Delaware Oaks, the two met at equal weights in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama on August 21, with Blind Luck forced to turn in yet another patented final quarter-mile blitz to emerge victorious. In addition to the greater weight spread in the Cotillion, Havre de Grace also has the advantage of a win over the Philly Park strip heading into Saturday's showdown. She last reached the winner's circle following an entry-level allowance score over a mile in her seasonal debut May 10.

Blind Luck, who also counts wins in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Fantasy S. (G2) and Las Virgenes S. (G1) this season, is very much in the driver's seat for champion three-year-old filly honors. That is unlikely to change even if she were to lose the Cotillion, which serves as her stepping-stone to the November 5 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained lass will once again have to endure another cross-country trip from her Hollywood Park base, but with a five-for-five mark outside the Golden State the acquisition of frequent flyer miles has so far had no negative impact on her form.

Only three others were enticed by a fat purse to meet the top pair. AWESOME MARIA (Maria's Mon), who took the Matron S. (G2) last season, made her belated sophomore debut for Todd Pletcher at Saratoga on September 2, displaying versatility when taking a division of the Riskaverse S. over one mile of the inner turf course. BONNIE BLUE FLAG (Mineshaft), who took the Cinemine S. at Lone Star on Memorial Day, followed up with a third in the Prioress S. (G1) and a second in the Test S. (G1) for Bob Baffert.

The outsider of the quintet is the D. Wayne Lukas-trained ABSINTHE MINDED (Quiet American), an allowance-class sort who was last of six in both the Monmouth Oaks (G3) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) this summer.

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